Amherst College
First-Year Arabic II
Spring 2010
Sec 1 M, Tu, W, Th, F 9:00 -9:50 CHAP 103
Sec 2 M,Tu,W,Th,F 1:00-1:50 CHAP 103
Instructor: El yasmine Hasnaoui
Office: Chapin Hall 116
Ext: 5425
Office hours: Mon.: 1:00-2:30; Thursday: 1:00-2:30
Course Description
Elementary Arabic II is the continuation of the year-long sequence in first-year Modern Standard Arabic ( MSA ) . Students will learn Arabic grammar and write the language.
Oral drills will be done in the classroom and the class will be conducted as much as possible in Arabic. The beginning of this course will consist of an extensive review of the basics learned in level I. Students will then follow the story of Maha and her family who were introduced in Arabic I.
Students will, at the same time, expand their vocabulary, go into more complex grammar structures, and learn more about culture. Vocabulary learning, proper grammatical usage and developing the ability to use the language in diverse real-world situations will be emphasized both in class and in homework.
We will be having Arabic Tables through which we will converse continuously and this around Moroccan Tea and cookies. Arabic tables will be held at Chapin Hall Lounge
The objectives of this second part of the course are for the students to: develop the ability to use the language both orally and in written form; acquire new vocabulary by listening to the monologue; and be acquainted with the Arabic grammatical structures. By the end of this course, the students would be able to read short texts and understand them and write short compositions as well.
Class preparation:
Arabic will require extensive work outside of class. In order to benefit from the class session it is important that you do the assigned homework and review the material covered in the preceding classes. If you have problems understanding lessons in class, please do not hesitate to ask questions .You are encouraged to be creative with the language in and outside the classroom. It is also vital that you keep up with each day's assignment because the class moves at a lightning pace, and you can easily be left behind.
Listening activities:
Al-Kitaab I comes with CDs that have listening activities on them. You should expect to spend a minimum of 30 minutes or more each day listening to the exercises and completing specific assignments .Learning to comprehend spoken Arabic is an important part of the course .Language learning requires daily practice and daily input.
I encourage you to seek out any available opportunity in your area for speaking, reading and hearing Arabic. The following are useful sources to practice Arabic:
- Visiting an Arabic restaurant and chat in Arabic will add to your speaking practice.
-Al-Arabiyya, Al-Jazeera and Dubai News Channels are good sources of hearing Modern
The syllabus might be subject to change depending on the students progress
Course Materials
Al-Kitaab for Ta’allum al-arabiyya I by Sounds by Mohamoud Al-Batal,Kristen Brustad
Georgetown University Press
The Concise Oxford English-Arabic Dictionary of Current Usage (Dictionary)
Bookstore: Amherst Books
General Policies
Attendance is mandatory at all class meetings. Responsibility for class attendance rests with the student. Regular and punctual attendance at all scheduled classes is expected.
Attendance will be taken daily at the beginning of class Non-justified absences and lack of active participation in class will affect your performance and ultimately, your grade . . Make up exams and quizzes are given only for verified medical or personal emergencies
There will be written assignments due at the beginning of each class .You are encouraged to study and work on homework assignments together, with the stipulation that each student must participate fully in doing the work and must submit her/his own individual paper. It is important to follow up any instructor’s comments on your homework, and it is your responsibility to come to office hours or make an appointment to see me.
The course includes two midterm exams, an oral exam (interview and /or presentations). Quizzes will be administered once a week.
The final examination will be comprehensive and will test all the skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
Intellectual Dishonesty
In cases of cheating and plagiarism, faculty members have the responsibility to enforce the Statement of Intellectual Responsibility. They are strongly encouraged to report all instances to the Office of the Dean of Students, which keeps student records and will be aware of any previous infractions a particular student may have committed. Without such reporting, students may be able to commit multiple infractions without serious consequence. The College's discipline system handles instances of suspected or proven cheating and plagiarism. In every instance, the particular grade penalty is imposed only at the discretion of the instructor. If an instructor suspects an instance of plagiarism off the Internet, staff members of the Office of the Dean of Students can help locate the source.
Grading
Daily homework and assignments 10%
Class participation and preparation 10%
Weekly quizzes 20%
Two mid-term exams 20%
Final Oral Exam 20%
Final Written Exam 20%
Weekly Schedule
Week of January 25thth to 29th
Class introduction: Syllabus, textbook, homework.
Revision Al Kitaab Part Two , Lesson 4,&5. ( Grammar and vocabulary)
Week of February 1stth to 5th
Monday,February 1st: Quiz 1 (30 min) in the units covered in the previous week.
Al Kitaab Part One ; Lesson Six P.84-101
Al Kitaab Part One Lesson Seven P.103
Week of February 8th to 12th
Monday , February 8th ( 30 min) in the units covered in the previous week.
Al Kitaab Part One ;Lesson Seven P.106-118
Al Kitaab Part One ; Lesson eight P.125
Week of February 15th to 19th
Monday ,February 15th: Quiz 3 (30 min) in the units covered in the previous week.
Review of Lessons six and Seven
Week of February 22nd to 26thth
Monday ,February 22nd : Quiz 4 (30 min) in the units covered in the previous week
Al Kitaab Part One;Lesson eight p.128-141
Vocabulary : months of the year,
Culture Islamic Calendar
Week of March 1st to 5th
Monday ,March 1st : Quiz 5 (30 min).
Al kitaab Part One ;Lesson Nine P.147-156
Friday 5th Arabic ( Chapin Hall Lounge)
Week of March 8th to 12th
Monday , March 8th : Midterm Exam 1 (40 min) Lessons Six,Seven and Eight
Al-Kitaab, Part one: Lesson Ten P.166-179
March 13-21 (Sat.-Sun.) Spring Recess.
Week of March 22nd to March 26th
Thursday,March 25th Quiz 6 (30 min)
Al-Kitaab, Part one ;Lesson Eleven P.185-195
Women status in Morocco , reforms in Morocco
Instructions for oral presentations ( Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th )
Week of March 29th to April 2nd
Monday,November 2nd:Quiz 7(30min)
Al Kitaab Part One ;Lesson twelve P.203-218
Week of April 5th to April 9th
Monday and Tuesday Oral PPT presentations( talk about yourself your family, friends, hobbies , your last summer holidays)
Review Lessons Ten and Eleven
Week of April 12th to 16th
Monday 12th,Quiz ( 30 minutes )
Al Kitaab Part One ; Lesson Thirteen P.222-236
Friday 16th Arabic Table ( Chapin Hall Lounge )
Week of April 19th to 23
Monday 19th Quiz ( 30 minutes )
Al Kitaab Part One ;Lesson Fourteen P.241-255
Instructions for the second Oral Presentation for Monday 3rd and Tuesday 5th( you will be asked to pick an Arabic speaking country and make a PPT presentation ; introduce the country ; population, language, currency, principal cities, names of its king/president, and anything that seem interesting to share with your classmates)
Week of April 26th to 30th
Mid Term Exam II Lesson Ten and Eleven
Al Kitaab Part One ;Lesson Fifteen P.263-269
Friday,April 30th Arabic Table ( Chapin Hall Lounge )
Week of May 3rd to 7th
Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th Oral Presentations
Review
May 10-14 (Mon.-Fri.) Examination Period.
Syllabus: introductory Arabic : Yasmine Hasnaoui Instructor Page 3